Lee Roddy’s Blog

Oct. 1, 2009

I am inspired to keep writing and teaching when I receive emails like these:

From a fomer student:

“Lee, it’s been over 20 years since I listened to you at the Professionalism Writing Conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but I’ve never forgotten the impact you made on me. In fact, your words, OPNAD — Other People’s Needs and Desires –is in cross-stitch hanging above my computer.

“I am writing a series of columns on writing for children for a web site, The Dabbling Mom. I would like permission to quote you from my notes at that conference.

“Since the years at those workshops, I have had success in the adult market. I am stepping up my effort in (writing for children) as it is my first love in writing.” Arline Chandler: www.arlinechandler.com.

Answer: I am happy to have Arline quote me.

From someone who likes my historical novels:

“I was just wondering if there was any update on the Between Two Flags series? I have been anxiously waiting for the of the story for years. Any progress in getting them in print?” Sharon Barshinger, who also quoted Isaiah 55-6-7.

Answer: Mott Media, the publisher holding reprint contracts for the first six novels, has not scheduled them. I have fully outlined the seventh and last book which shows what happened to the main characers  at war’s end and beyond.

From a Canadian Christian school librarian:

“For the return to school, I have D.J. Dillon and the Ladd Family Adventures featured on a counter-top display. There isn’t a day that goes by that those books are not either being checked out or coming back in, only to go out again almost immediately.Thanks for your contribution in good reading for our students!” Michelle Droogendyk, Rehoboth Library <library@rehoboth.on.c.

Answer: I’m delighted. I would love to hear from other school librarians about how they are using my books.

Discolvery: You may want to check out a new search engine, www.bing.com, where you’ll find an additional source of information including quite a bit about Lee Roddy Books.

It is letters like those above, and a new search engine, that inspire me to keep writing and teaching.

I was really pleased and surprised when Cicely showed me that my blog had recorded nearly 500 visitors on Sunday, Sept. 13th.  I have been so busy that I had not changed the contents since April.  I had strong reasons for having failed to keep my blog current.

Basically, Cicely and I have been on work overload for years and that must be lightened.  We are giving up some projects to focus on unfinished ones. From now on, I will try to frequently change my blog except when I’m traveling.

Ecclesiastes tells us that there is a time to every purpose under heaven. Cicely and I are in transition from yesterday’s purpose to now and the immediate future. These involve serving you with our gifts of writing and teaching.

We sold our rural area house after 20 wonderful years there and moved into town where there is public transportation. Our new domicile is small but big enough for what we want to do. I primarily plan to focus on  finishing some partly written novels and replace some business travel with more on-line possibillities.

That will be assisted by something new from Amazon. Although they have always carried my books, they have now started an Authors Page where all writers with books in Amazon’s catalog will have their works together in one place. Presently, seven pages there are devoted to my works. A photo, author profile and other germane items will be added as I have time.

I’m pleased with the cooperation I’ve received so far in helping get my page up and running. They’re open to suggestions, so I hope they will accept my upcoming ones. I urge you to check out this site and give me your feedback. Here’a the link Amazon gave me.

http://amazon.com/-/e/B001HMPGFY

I  think that most of us do not realize the power each has to reach beyond our own homes and touch others who live in such countries as South Africa, Australia and Canada. I am struggling to understand how to  most effectively use the Internet, so I invite you to help me learn so that not only will we benefit, but so will others in far away places.

You use the Internet to contact me, just as women did recently from South Africa, Australia and Canada. I don’t exclude the 23 other foreign countries where viewers responded to my web site and those of you write from many states in the Union. But I have a special

purpose in focusing on distant countries, like South Africa. It may be something you will want to investigate for yourself.

I  received three emails from Nicoleen (Nicky) Dickinson, the librarian at Domino Servite School at Kwasizabaantu Mission in South Africa. She wrote in part, “Our school is 90 percent underprivileged Zulu children coming from very rural homes.”

 Nicky declared that these young readers enjoy my books so,much that they contininue re-reading them even through they are falling apart.” She added, “We are really trusting God for stock and resources.: (Read more of her letters elsewhere on this web site.)

I asked Nicky for a mission statement, then I looked at their website and decided I would invite you blog readers to consider whether you might want to investigate the possibility of some organaization (to which you belong) helping meet the reading needs of students in this  school. They want carefully screened books for their Christian-based environment. If you would like to know more, contact Nicoleen (Nicky) Dicksion by email: nicoleend@anazi.co.za..

The power in story is a theme that Al Janssen speaks about at writers’ conferences and other places. When I first heard Al teach this great truth, he was head of the publishing department at Focus the Family which produced many of my books. Al, now with Open Doors, inspired me to adapt his premise in my own teaching. I believe you will benefit from knowing a little more about how you can unlock the power of story in ways you may not have thought about.

God used stories to tell us about Adam and Eve and a host of other Old Testament personalities and what we can learn from their narratives. Jesus taught in parables. Abraham Lincoln made his points by telling simple stories. Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, the first novel to sell a million copies. Lincoln reportedly said when he met her, “So you’re the little woman who started this big war.” I don’t believe that, but it does illustrate the power in a story.

Television advertisements frequently sell products by a short drama. Parents commonly put their young children to bed by reading or telling them a story.

I have written more than 50 novels with the primary purpose of entertaining. If the reader is not entertained, he or she will not keep reading. But each of my stories wraps around a kernel of truth that has power beyond any I personally have.

A couple of quick examples: A boy wrote me that he didn’t believe reading a book could change his life, but one of my stories changed his. An attached note from his mother confirmed that her son’s life really had changed since reading that book.

A Christian school teacher told me that every year when she reads one of my books aloud, she gives students an opportunity to change their lives, and many had done so.

I invite you to send me a true story that made a difference in your life. I may share it with our visitors, many of whom live beyond our national borders.

Before my character-building books for young readers started selling well enough that I could quit my “day job” and write full time, I spent many years in the business world.

There I learned the importance of reviewing and adjusting to what visitors (customers, patrons, clients, etc.) wanted. Recently, as more and more people logged on to my website, it was obvious that they were primarily interested in my books.

Why? One mother explained it this way, “Where else besides Lee Roddy Books can we find stories for kids that are fun and exciting to read, but have no sex, no violence, no drugs or bad language — but support family values?”

To meet visitors’ needs, we’ve made many changes in this website since I last posted my blog. My own values are reflected in the stories I write, so it’s logical that I would offer wholesome recreational reading that discriminating parents, teachers and librarians can confidently give to a young reader without an adult first reading the book.

One of the serendipitious aspects of having this website is hearing from so many adults. I always get letters from young readers, but the adult response is very gratifying. So is the number of visitors who have checked out my blog.

In fact, the survey Cicely just handed me showed that this blog is rapidly gaining popularity with visitors. That is curious because I’ve been so rushed that I haven’t written a new blog in some time, but I will now do so more often. If you wish to comment, remember, this is a family friendly blog.

Final thought: Does your group have a newsletter? If so, I’d be glad to provide — gratis — a regular question and answer column on teaching and developing writing skills. With your reply, please briefly describe your group’s philosphy (such as a mission statement), the desired word length and submission deadlines. I hope to soon hear from you.

You can search the Internet for many articles about the first Thanksgiving, and the subsequent evolution into the holiday we Americans now celebrate  annually, but there is very little in today’s newspapers or newscasts about the reason for this special day.

This year is a hard one for many families whose savings have dissolved, or who have lost jobs, homes, etc. Yet it is nothing compared to what the first-ever Thanksgiving was like.

Reflect a moment as your family and friends sit down this day in 2008 and be gratful for what we have , but do not complain about what is missing.

Consider the first Thanksgiving when half of all the passengers who arrived on our eastern shore had died that first winter. Yet those present at the first celebration were grateful for what they had. They had survived a vicious winter, built houses in the wilderness and learned through friendly Indians how to plant corn and other crops. In other words, those first settlers learned to survive.

But they didn’t believe they had done that all all by themselves. Rather, they wanted to thank God for what they had — and which they were about to receive. There would not have been enough food for everyone if it had not been for the bountiful gifts their Indian guests brought. So there was not only enough for everyone, but there was harmony among strangers in a new land and friendly neighbors.

In an imperfect world, human perfection is hard to find, but the spirit of Thanksgiving is as abundant and available today as it was when the first settlers gathered to give thanks to their Creator.

So, in spite of the economic news of the day, the same God who saw the first settlers through their harsh landing on these shores is still able to provide for us today. As we gather for this year’s Thanksging meal, regardless of our individual religious beliefs, it would be prudent to at least say a silent prayer of thanks for all we have — especially our friends, family, and other loved ones.

May your Thanksgiving be memorable for what has been provided, and may your tomorrows be in the same expectant spirt as the original Pilgrims who carved out a nation under God and made it possible for what you and do have this Thanksgiving Day.

As an author, I appreciate various serendipitous aspects of writing books that go beyond what’s called in the trade, “a body of work” stretching across the top shelf in my office bookcase. Among those unanticipated aspects is hearing that hundreds of aspiring people took my writing seminars and went on to sell their first and sometimes many books, like Susan K. Marlow and Joyce K. Ellis.

Susan took my classes at Mount Hermon in California where I taught for about 15 years. Then unpublished, Susan now has five novels out for young readers. Her series, The Circle C Adventures, is about a girl, her horse and  the exciting experience they have. I wrote an endorsement for Susan’s just-released San Fraancisco Smugglers.

On her website (www.susankmarlow.com) she describves her books as “wholesome.”  They are. Like my books, parents, teachers and librarians can give one of Susan’s stories to a child without having to read it first to be sure it’s suitable.

Some years ago, Joyce took my classes at Billy Graham’s Decision School of Christian Writing in Minnapolis, Minnetosa. According to her website (www.joycekellis.com) she has now written or co-authored a dozen books and hundreds of articles. She recently sent a copy of her co-authored new book, “Writing so Heaven Will be Different, 35 years of encouraging strories from the Write-to-Publish Conference.” Joyce and Tammie Edington Shaw are the editors.

The book’s preface explains that the title is based on something I often tell my students, “Write so heaven will be different.” Lin Johnson frequently quotes this at Write-to-Publish Conferences where I taught when it was held at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. It’s now held at Wheaton College. Lin Johnson has directed this conference for 14 years.

Another serendipitous discovery is the thousands of “hits” my website gets from people looking for quality reading material for children, or instruction for adults in how to write for publication. These lessons work because I’m an author who makes a living by using what I teach. So thanks for logging on to this website.

Blog 3: 10-26-08

FOREIGN VISITORS:

I am astounded that the website my wife, Cicely, and I maintain has recently brought visitors from at least 24 foreign counties. Many visitors repeatedly returned to see what we have about books or writing that may benefit them.

They visited frinm Canada, Mexico, various Europen Countries, South America, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Fiji,  Australia and different Asian countries. I’m delighted, but wish I knew if I’m meeting their needs. I urge everyone who logs on to www.leeroddybooks.com to leave a sentence about why he/she visited, and whether we had what was sought.

PERSONAL APPEARANCES

Writing is the hardest taskmaster I have ever known, requiring far more time than any job I’ve had. I don’t mind because I love what I do. However, I also make personal appearance when I can. My spirits are always lifted by such inter-active encounters, and I try to do something worthwhile for them. Space limitations only permit mentioning a few recent appearances, as:

Charlie Welch, outdoor education director, Wolf Mountain Camps, Grass Valley, CA. I had a wonderful home school group of caring parents and eager young students.

Andrew Pudewa, founder, Institute for Excellence in Writing, had me as a presenter over a 3-day period at the Writing Educators Symosium in Murietta, Southern Califoria. Excited and caring teachers of writing came from many states and overseas.

Administrator Sally Dyke and 6th grade teacher Kathy Fletcher hosted my annual appearance at Forest Lake Christian School, Auburn, C. This was my 16th year that I’ve been invited back.

Capital Christian School, Sacramento, CA, where Mrs. Elizabeth (Beth) Thompson arranged for my first visit there after her son, Nathaniel (a fan of my books) heard his teacher, Mrs. Betty Murakami, read some of my stories aloud to her 4th grade class.

Inspire Christian Writers Group, Sacramento: Beth Thompson invited me to share some of my witing knowledge with these students. I like encouraging aspiring writers to achieve their goals.

My heartfelt thanks to all, plus those whose names cannot be included because of space limitations.

Two questions: How many couples do you know who have been married 60 years or more? And are you familiar with the quote, “A wife of noble character, who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.”

I’ve known a few couples who have reached the 60-year milestone, and today I can not only say my wife and I are also there, but she is what Proverbs calls “a noble wife.”

On Oct. 17, 1947, sixty-one years ago, Cicely Price and I pledged to live our lives together. I hope you’ll indulge me while I share some thoughts about this very special woman and how we came to have a long and happy marriage.

We met the first day of college, Sept. 13, 1943. Over the next three-plus years, we became friends who shared each other’s ambitions. Cicely wanted to become an actress, which she did. She also chose to eventually give that up to be a wife, mother and grandmother which she is today.

I dreamed of authoring books. Cicely became my cheer leader; my ‘pom-pom’ girl, enthusiastically supporting my writing aspirations through many dry years before my books sold. She worked when times were financially tight, but mostly she stayed home and reared our family. We are blessed with a son, a daughter, and their families.

Cicely never complained, but was always positive, expecting to achieve goals we set for ourselves. We still have unmet goals, so even after 61 years, while I write, Cicely checks on our children, works full time in our business, plus keeping the house, cooking, answering phones, writing a newspaper column, editing my chapters, answering a multitude of bells, chimes and beeps from various appliances. Yet we always take time to daily say to each other, “I love you.”

Without Cicely, I may never have been a novelist, but I am mostly blessed by being married 61 years to a noble women whose price is indeed beyond rubies.

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Lee Roddy’s Blog

Blog: an online diary; a personal chronological log of thoughts published on a Web page or Weblog, often reflecting the author’s personality

My thoughts primarily concern readers, writers and authors. Young readers are the first “leg” in such a tripod of words. I want them to love reading. Helping aspiring writers is the middle leg because I know what it’s like to want to write for years, yet only get rejections. Authors are the third leg, so a blog is a network for those of us who string words together for a living.

I think about how I’d be out of work without parents, teachers and kids buying millions of copies of my books. Without giving writing tips to aspiring writers of all ages, I might deprive someone of ways to become an author and write uplifting novels for now and generations yet unborn.

Without contact among fellow authors of published works who speak the “inside” language of our craft, my writing spirit could languish. However, supported by readers, writers and authors, my life is richer, which is what we professional writers seek to make true of others.

For this blog to thrive, it needs to be fed by interactive readers, writers and authors. Technology allows us to know that in addition to the USA and Canada, our website receives visitors from Europe, South Africa, Australia and Asia. This astounds me, as does the fact we know which features were lingered over or quickly passed. But unless a comment is left, it’s like tracks in the sand. Someone or something passed, yet left only prints.

So I hope readers and writers of all ages will leave some sign of your visit. I need your thoughts. I may use excerpts here or on the website, such as in the question and answer section. Tell me which of my books you’ve read, and your reaction. Tell me your thoughts on what you’d like to see here or on the website.  So reader, writer or author, my thoughts are of you and how to make your day a little brighter by sometime I say or write.

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